Open Call for the 1st PERSEUS Training Visits Scheme
Dear colleagues,
This is to inform you that a call is open for application for the First Training Visits
Scheme, under PERSEUS, which aims to train individuals, as well as to transfer
knowledge and allow sharing and diffusion of technological expertise among
partners.
Conditions for application:
1. Who may apply: The call is open for scientists, technicians and PhD students
within the PERSEUS partner Institutes.
2. How to apply: Please fill in the Application form at the end of this document
3. Deadline for applications: 28 November 2012
4. Dates for training are between 2013-2015 (see individual proposals for
details).
5. Please send your application in electronic format to Professor Aldo Drago:
aldo.drago@um.edu.mt
Other Information:
•
•
•
The applicants will be selected by the Scientific Steering Committee.
The successful applicants will be personally informed about the outcome of
their application, while the list of successful applicants will also be posted
on the PERSEUS website.
The grant covers travel expenses, accommodation, and per diem for each
applicant, while training expenses and fees for the Institutes are also
covered by PERSEUS.
1. TECHNICAL DETAILS OF THE TRAINING
Institute
Country
Chief scientist
Relevance to WPs
Laboratoire
France
Prof. Louis
WP1
d'Oceanographie de
Legendre
Villefranche (LOV)
Automated counting, sizing and recognition of zooplankton
Topic
Short description of
Topic
Training duration
Micro- and macrozooplankton are key components of pelagic marine
ecosystems, but sample analysis is time consuming. The training
proposed here is aimed at providing methods of obtaining data on
plankton > 10 µm (mostly zooplankton) in a rapid way compatible
with PERSEUS goals. Imaging systems together with computerassisted recognition can be used to accelerate the analysis. The
counterpart is a lower taxonomic resolution than traditional
microscopic analysis, so the system is a complementary method to
the traditional one and can help to focus on a specific subset of
samples. Using the Flowcam and Zooscan we can, on a routine basis,
analyse up to 100 groups of organisms and detect significant
ecological dynamics.
The Flowcam and ZooScan hardware together with the ZooProcess
and Plankton Identifier (PkID) software make up an integrated
analysis system for the acquisition and classification of digital
zooplankton images from preserved zooplankton samples.
Zooplankton samples are digitized and processed by the ZooProcess
and PkID to detect, enumerate, measure and classify the digitized
objects. A semi-automatic approach that entails automated
classification of images and the following manual validation provide
a rapid and accurate classification of zooplankton and abiotic objects.
The trainees will get hands-on experience in using the two imaging
systems described above (Flowcam, ZooScan) and the associated
software (ZooProcess, Plankton Identifier-PkID). They will learn how
to interpret the data, including the derivation of ecological indicators.
The trainees would be welcome to bring their own samples, acquired
for example during PERSEUS cruises.
The trainees will learn how (1) to use laboratory-imaging systems
for plankton analysis, (2) to derive ecological indicators from the
data produced by these systems, and (3) to understand the
advantages and limits of such systems. Back at their home
institutions, the trainees could independently use these commercially
available instruments for their own research.
30 days (up to 45)
Number of trainees
2 (per period)
Training period
All year round, but not July and August
Equipment to be
deployed/used
during training
Brief description of
methodologies/
protocols to be
deployed/used
during such training
Expected outcomes/
deliverables of the
training to be
conducted1
1
AUTOMATED COUNTING, SIZING AND RECOGNITION OF
ZOOPLANKTON
May include sampling survey, analysis of existing samples, technical report, scientific publication, etc
2. TECHNICAL DETAILS OF THE TRAINING
Institute
Country Chief scientist
Biophysics Institute,
CNR
Italy
Topic
Marine Carbon Cycle
Dissolved organic matter dynamics and marine ecosystem health
Short description of
Topic
Marine dissolved organic matter (DOM) represents the largest, most
complex and least understood reservoir of organic carbon on the
Earth. The importance of DOM is connected to its ecological
significance and its central role in the global carbon cycle. It is
produced at each level of the marine food web and it represents the
source of energy for heterotrophic bacteria. Its colored fraction
(CDOM) adsorbs light at UV and visible spectral regions, influencing
the underwater light availability in open and coastal regions with
important implication on primary production and biological
activity.
DOC and CDOM can give indirect information about the status of
health of the marine ecosystem. In fact abnormal DOC
concentrations (both too high and too low) or particular features of
optical properties of CDOM are an alarm bell on the health of the
ecosystem. DOM can be considered as the summary of all the
biological processes occurring in the sea, so not only does it give
integrated information about how the food web and the microbial
loop functions, but it also influences and is influenced by all the
physical, chemical and biological processes occurring in the oceans.
Equipment to be
deployed/used
during training



Chiara Santinelli
Relevance to WPs
WP1, WP2, WP4
Total organic carbon analyser, Shimadzu (TOC-5000A; TOCV CSN)
FLUOROMAX4 fluorometer with a Photon Counting detector
for ultimate sensitivity
Jasco V550 UV/VIS spectrophotometer
Brief description
of methodologies/
protocols to be
deployed/used
During the training the applicants will receive basic training in the
instruments’ use and lectures about the importance of DOM as an
indicator of the ecosystem health. They will participate in (1) a oneday survey to collect samples (2) the filtration and treatments of
samples (3) the analysis of the samples in order to gain information
on DOC concentration and CDOM optical properties (absorption and
fluorescence) (4) the elaboration and interpretation of the data
collected during the training and the historical data collected by IBFCNR.
The DOC concentration will be determined by the high temperature
catalytic oxidation.
In order to get information on CDOM the absorption spectra will be
measured in the range 220-800 nm and the spectral slope will be
calculated by non-linear interpolation.
Fluorescence emission spectra (ex =280 nm and 355 nm) as well as
excitation emission matrix will be registered (ex = 220-450 nm; ex =
300-600 nm) and they will be analysed by using the parallel factorial
analysis (PARAFAC), in order to obtain information on the different
kinds of fluorophores occurring in CDOM pool. The following
programs will be used for data elaboration: Matlab, Origin,
Sigmaplot and Ocean Data View.
Expected
outcomes/
deliverables of
the training to be
conducted
At the end of the training the applicants will be requested to produce
a technical report and a presentation of the results obtained during
the training.
Training duration
Number of
trainees
Training period
3 weeks
3
May - June 2013 & March - June 2014
3. TECHNICAL DETAILS OF THE TRAINING
Institute
Country
Chief scientist
HCMR
Topic
Short description of
Topic
Equipment to be
deployed/used during
training
Relevance to WPs
Greece
Catherine
WP2
Tsangaris
Biochemical biomarker techniques for the assessment of
pollution effects in marine organisms
Biomarkers are among the emerging tools for the assessment
of pollution effects in marine ecosystems. Biomarkers are
biochemical, physiological and behavioral responses that
signal exposure to and/or adverse effects of anthropogenic
contaminants. Training will be provided on biochemical
biomarker
techniques
i.e.
metallothionein
content,
acetylcholinesterase, catalase and glutathione-S-transferase
activities. Participants will be trained on the above techniques
using samples provided by HCMR and subsequently will
analyze their regional samples. Prior to the training visits,
participants will collect indicator organisms from their
regional sampling sites at reference and pollution hot spot
areas (2-4 sites per participant) and transfer them to HCMR for
the biomarker analyses. The mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis is
the proposed indicator organism, but if this species is not
available at the participant’s working areas alternative
indicator organisms will be considered. Training will include
lectures, and laboratory analyses. An intercalibration exercise
will be subsequently carried out among laboratories that will
apply the biomarker techniques. The target is to exchange and
apply common analytical protocols in order to assess
biomarker levels in different sub regions and produce data of
biological effect measurements from areas where relative
information is poor.
Balance,
Homogeniser,
Microcentrifuge,
Absorbance
microplate reader, Spectrophotometer, Deep freezer.
Sample preparation:
Brief description of
methodologies/protocols Just after the collection of mussels, the gills and digestive
glands are dissected, frozen in liquid nitrogen and stored at to be deployed/used
80º C until analysis. Tissues are homogenized in a buffer and
centrifuged following the appropriate procedure for the
analysis to be performed.
Expected
outcomes/deliverables
of the training to be
conducted
Training duration
Number of trainees
Training period
Analytical methods:
Metallothioneins content is measured spectrophotometrically
according to Viarengo et al. (1997). The method is based on the
estimation of the sulphydryl content of MTs proteins by
spectrophotometric determination of the -SH groups using
Ellman’s reagent.
AchE activity is assayed by the method of Ellman (Ellman et al.,
1961) adapted to microplate reading by Bocquené et al.
(1993).
CAT activity is measured by the method of Cohen et al. (1996)
by the loss of H2O2 that is measured colorimetrically with
ferrous ions and thiocyanate on a microplate reader.
GST is measured by the method of Habig and Jacoby (1981)
with 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene (CDNB) as a conjugation
substrate adapted to microplate reading.
Establishment of a network of scientists working on
biomarkers of pollution
A common publication on the comparative study of biomarkers
of pollution in different SES regions
3 weeks per training period
(2 subsequent training periods of 6 weeks total duration)
5 (10 in total)
May-June 2013
APPLICATION FORM
1st PERSEUS Training Visits Scheme
Grant Agreement No. 287600
Please fill in all sections clearly in English. Complete and detailed answers are required in order to
ensure the most appropriate selection of candidates.
Name of Applicant
E-mail
Contact Address
Phone
Fax
Nationality
Current Institute Affiliation
Position
Gender
Age Group
Training course
(Please mark one choice)
Short CV
(not more than 1 page;
please continue on a
separate page if necessary)
Male
20-30
1
Female
30-40
40-50
2
50 +
3
Please indicate why you have chosen this specific course and describe what you hope
to achieve, professionally and personally, by completing the training.
Late or incomplete applications will not be considered
Kindly also note that successful applicants will be required to obtain adequate medical and other
insurance cover for their entire stay in the country hosting the training course. This expense is not
covered by the scholarship package and participants are to make the necessary arrangements and
cover these costs personally.
I certify that my statements in answer to the previous questions are true, complete and correct
to the best of my knowledge
__
Candidate’s signature
____________________
Date